Douluo Continent: Martial Soul - Ice and Snow Maiden, Calls Snow Empress "Mom"

Xue Di's long, silver eyelashes twitched slightly. Although she didn't say a word, the message conveyed in her eyes couldn't be clearer:

Bing'er, if you dare to talk nonsense in front of Chen'er, ruin my glorious and great image as a mother in his heart, and frighten my precious son, you can forget about seeing me dance the Ice and Snow Maiden Dance for the next hundred years!

"Gulp..."

Hyotei swallowed hard. When she was swept over by Yuki-e's gaze, which was filled with both "maternal radiance" and "domineering pressure," the words that were about to come out of her mouth instantly took a 180-degree turn.

Her delicate, childlike face flushed bright red, and she swallowed her rebuttal, nearly causing herself internal injury from choking back her words.

"Okay...okay then!"

Hyotei stomped her foot angrily, placed her delicate white hands on her slender waist, and proudly raised her exquisite chin, striking a pose of extreme magnanimity:

"Since you, the 'mother,' have said so, what can I, the 'aunt,' say? Even if this little brat doesn't awaken the Ice and Snow Maiden Martial Soul by the time he's six and is a useless good-for-nothing who can't cultivate, I'll still raise him! At worst, I'll take him wherever I go, and if anyone dares to bully him, I'll blast them to smithereens with the Wrath of the Ice Emperor!"

At this point, Ice Emperor seemed somewhat unwilling. Her emerald green eyes darted around, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Xue Bingchen and Snow Emperor. Suddenly, a sly smile appeared on her lips.

She leaned close to Xue Bingchen, extended a slender finger, and gently poked Xue Bingchen's fair cheek, then said something startling:

"However... Little Ice Dust, there's always a chance of something going wrong! This far north isn't just home to the Ice and Snow Maiden, a top-tier bloodline. In the medicinal baths I've prepared for you over the past three years, I've added quite a few of our Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion clan's most precious treasures, and even a trace of my own primordial energy!"

Hyotei's eyes lit up as he spoke, as if he had discovered a new continent, and he excitedly announced:

"If by the time you turn six, you haven't awakened the Snow Empress's martial soul, but instead awaken my 'Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion' martial soul... Hmph, that means your connection with me is even deeper! At that time, you're not allowed to call me Aunt Ice Empress anymore; from now on, you'll have to call me 'Mom'! Do you understand?!"

"..."

Upon hearing Ice Emperor's shocking remarks, which could only be described as "outrageous and treacherous," Xue Bingchen was utterly speechless.

His clear, icy blue eyes were filled with big question marks. His mouth was slightly open as he stared blankly at the green-haired, twin-tailed loli in front of him, who had her hands on her hips and looked expectant. For a moment, he didn't know how to react.

"Good heavens, these two top figures from the far north are actually getting into a power struggle over who will be my 'mother'?!"

Xue Bingchen mentally ranted and raved.

He glanced to his left and saw the "Snow Empress Mother," a mature and elegant woman with 700,000 years of cultivation, a cool and noble temperament, unparalleled beauty, and a figure so alluring it would make one's nose bleed.

He glanced to his right, where a woman with nearly 400,000 years of cultivation, an arrogant and fiery personality, a pretty and cute appearance, and a... well, you know.

Well, for now, the "Hyotei Mom (alternative)" is still the legally cute loli type with a flat chest.

If this scene were seen by human soul masters outside who would fight tooth and nail for a hundred-year soul ring, they would probably die of jealousy on the spot!

Faced with Hyotei's sudden declaration of "stealing her son," Yuki-tei did not get angry or refute as Hyotei had expected.

On the contrary, a beautiful smile, utterly composed and even slightly playful, bloomed on Xue Di's flawless face.

She gently shook her head, completely unconcerned about Hyotei's "provocation".

Because the Snow Emperor has absolute confidence.

This confidence stemmed not only from her terrifying strength as the number one person in the far north, but also from the profound and even blood-bound bond she had built with Xue Bingchen over the past three years.

Xue Di could clearly feel that as Xue Bingchen grew up day by day, the trace of ice and snow essence within him was constantly growing stronger.

Whether it's his breathing rhythm or the trajectory of his blood and qi circulation, they are subtly converging with the characteristics of the Ice and Snow Maiden clan.

More importantly, in terms of both heart and instinct, Xue Bingchen's dependence on her was something that Bingdi could never match.

Whenever Xue Di and Bing Di transformed into human form and appeared in front of Xue Bingchen, the little guy would always take off his short legs without hesitation and stumble into her arms.

He loved to hold her long, straight, jade-like legs, buried his furry little head in her soft, full chest, and even when he was sleeping, he would hold tightly to a strand of her long silver hair before he could close his eyes in peace.

When facing Hyotei, Xue Bingchen was also very close, but it was more like the attitude he would have towards a playmate or a strict elder.

To describe it using the strange vocabulary of the human world, Xue Di once saw a word in a fragment of a powerful human's memory—

"Mature woman fetish"

Clearly, in Xue Bingchen's subconscious, which is rooted in human instinct, he prefers and is closer to a mature, gentle, tolerant, and maternal older sister like Xue Di, rather than a cute but always boisterous and hot-tempered little girl like Bing Di.

"Bing'er, since you're so confident, let's wait and see."

The Snow Emperor smiled slightly, a smile like the warmest ray of sunshine in winter, instantly melting the harsh cold of the far north.

She didn't argue with Hyotei, but instead gazed quietly at Xue Bingchen in her arms with those gentle eyes that seemed to encompass the whole world.

Xue Bingchen felt the warmth of Xue Di's embrace, and then looked at Bing Di beside him, who, though arrogant, also had deep concern hidden in her eyes.

His heart, which had been somewhat confused due to the awakening of memories from his past life, finally found complete peace at this moment.

"No matter who I am, no matter why I came into this world, one thing will never change."

Xue Bingchen silently said to himself:

"They are the closest and most important people to me in this world. They gave me a second life and a home."

Thinking of this, Xue Bingchen took a deep breath of the cold yet pure air of the far north, and a seriousness and determination beyond that of a three-year-old child appeared on her delicately carved face.

He stretched out his two delicate white hands and gently cupped Xue Di's flawless face. His icy blue eyes stared unblinkingly into Xue Di's eyes, and in a childish yet incredibly firm voice, he said loudly, word by word:

"Mom, don't worry! And listen up, Aunt Hyotei too!"